30 French Proverbs You Should Know If You're Learning French

French is absolutely loaded with interesting proverbs.

You’ll find that some of these pop up regularly in conversations.

Many French proverbs are similar to ones you'll know in English, but there are many that are uniquely French. I've listed them here for you.

Below you’ll find my 30 favorite (and most useful) French proverbs.

I've also included translations and explanations on how to use them.

1. Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l’ours avant de l’avoir tué.

Translation: Don’t sell the bear’s skin before you’ve killed it.

Explanation: This proverb warns against making plans or celebrating success before you are certain of the outcome. Its origins are often traced to folktales and fables in which hunters bragged or sold the hide of an animal they had yet to catch. It’s used to advise caution and prudence.

2. L’habit ne fait pas le moine.

Translation: The robe doesn’t make the monk.

Explanation: This proverb teaches that outward appearance can be deceiving: one’s clothes or external image does not always reflect their true character. It’s a reminder not to judge people or situations by superficial indicators.

3. Chacun voit midi à sa porte.

Translation: Everyone sees noon at their own door.

Explanation: This saying highlights how people interpret events or situations through their own personal perspectives and biases. It is used to remind us that individual viewpoints can differ greatly based on personal experience.

4. Mieux vaut prévenir que guérir.

Translation: Better to prevent than to cure.

Explanation: This encourages proactive measures rather than waiting for problems to arise. The proverb is commonly invoked in the context of health, safety, or any situation where taking precautions helps avoid bigger issues later on.

5. Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières.

Translation: Little streams make great rivers.

Explanation: This proverb emphasizes that small efforts or contributions can accumulate into something much larger over time. It is often used to encourage consistency and patience in achieving goals.

6. Qui se ressemble s’assemble.

Translation: Those who resemble each other, assemble together.

Explanation: This reflects the idea that people with similar interests, personalities, or backgrounds tend to group together. It's akin to the English “Birds of a feather flock together.” Its usage is frequent in discussions of social relationships.

7. Il n’y a pas de fumée sans feu.

Translation: There’s no smoke without fire.

Explanation: A caution that rumors often have some basis in truth, or that a visible effect usually has a cause. Though it can be used literally (e.g., if you see signs of trouble, there is likely trouble), it’s also frequently used figuratively about gossip.

8. Paris ne s’est pas fait en un jour.

Translation: Paris wasn’t built in a day.

Explanation: Just like the English saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” it reminds us that significant achievements require time and effort. It’s a call for patience and perseverance.

9. Ce qui est fait n’est plus à faire.

Translation: What is done is no longer to be done.

Explanation: This simply means that once a task is completed, there’s no need to do it again. Often used to underline that you should complete tasks properly the first time or acknowledge that something is definitively finished.

10. Après la pluie, le beau temps.

Translation: After the rain, comes fair weather.

Explanation: Metaphorically, it signifies that bad times don’t last forever and better days eventually follow. It’s a reassuring proverb about hope and recovery after difficulty.

11. L’appétit vient en mangeant.

Translation: Appetite comes while eating.

Explanation: This suggests that the more you have of something, the more you want. It can refer to food literally, but it’s also used figuratively to highlight how taking the first step can increase motivation or desire to continue.

12. Il faut réfléchir avant d’agir.

Translation: One must think before acting.

Explanation: A straightforward exhortation to consider consequences before taking action. Similar to “Look before you leap,” it cautions against impulsiveness.

13. Un malheur ne vient jamais seul.

Translation: A misfortune never arrives alone.

Explanation: This proverb reflects the belief that bad events tend to happen in clusters (“When it rains, it pours”). It can be used sympathetically or wryly, acknowledging that troubles often accumulate.

14. Qui vole un œuf vole un bœuf.

Translation: He who steals an egg will steal an ox.

Explanation: It warns that small misdeeds can lead to bigger crimes or that a dishonest person might not stop at minor offenses. Its origin is an old moral adage and it’s used to draw attention to slippery moral slopes.

15. Qui va à la chasse perd sa place.

Translation: He who goes hunting loses his seat.

Explanation: Commonly used when someone leaves their seat or position temporarily and finds it taken upon return. It’s a colloquial way to say, “You snooze, you lose,” often said playfully in casual settings.

16. Qui ne risque rien n’a rien.

Translation: He who risks nothing has nothing.

Explanation: Encourages taking chances in order to achieve rewards. It underscores the idea that being too cautious can result in missed opportunities and stagnation.

17. Tel père, tel fils.

Translation: Like father, like son.

Explanation: This emphasizes that children often resemble their parents in character, behavior, or fate. The proverb is used to comment on familial resemblances, both genetic and behavioral.

18. Loin des yeux, loin du cœur.

Translation: Far from the eyes, far from the heart.

Explanation: Suggests that if someone or something is not physically present, it can be easily forgotten. Used to comment on how distance often weakens relationships or attachments.

19. C’est en forgeant qu’on devient forgeron.

Translation: It’s by forging that one becomes a blacksmith.

Explanation: Stresses the importance of practice and repetition in mastering a skill. Similar to “Practice makes perfect,” it highlights learning by doing.

20. Mieux vaut tard que jamais.

Translation: Better late than never.

Explanation: Encourages taking action or completing a task even if it’s delayed, rather than abandoning it altogether. It’s very common and used in everyday conversation.

21. Il faut battre le fer pendant qu’il est chaud.

Translation: You must strike the iron while it’s hot.

Explanation: Advises taking advantage of favorable conditions or moments of opportunity before they pass. The blacksmith imagery dates back to times when metalwork was a vital trade.

22. Petit à petit, l’oiseau fait son nid.

Translation: Little by little, the bird builds its nest.

Explanation: This highlights that patience and incremental steps lead to the completion of larger goals. Encourages consistency and small efforts repeated over time.

23. La fin justifie les moyens.

Translation: The end justifies the means.

Explanation: This can be used either positively or critically to say that achieving a goal can sometimes excuse the methods used—even if questionable. Often attributed to Machiavellian thought (though originally popularized in various philosophical works).

24. On ne fait pas d’omelette sans casser d’œufs.

Translation: You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs.

Explanation: Reminds us that some sacrifices or inconveniences are inevitable when striving for a worthwhile goal. It’s used to justify necessary losses or messiness in the pursuit of a bigger result.

25. Qui veut voyager loin ménage sa monture.

Translation: He who wants to travel far spares his mount.

Explanation: Encourages pacing oneself and preserving one’s resources to achieve long-term objectives. It’s useful when discussing strategic planning or sustainable efforts.

26. À l’impossible nul n’est tenu.

Translation: No one is bound to do the impossible.

Explanation: This proverb means that no one can be expected to accomplish the unachievable. It’s used as a fair reminder in both personal and professional contexts that some tasks may exceed human capability.

27. Quand on parle du loup, on en voit la queue.

Translation: When one speaks of the wolf, you see its tail.

Explanation: The French counterpart to “Speak of the devil and he appears.” It’s often said when the subject of a conversation suddenly appears or contacts you.

28. À cheval donné, on ne regarde pas les dents.

Translation: Don’t look at a given horse’s teeth.

Explanation: Equivalent to “Never look a gift horse in the mouth.” It cautions against finding fault or scrutinizing a gift’s value when it’s given freely.

29. Un ‘tiens’ vaut mieux que deux ‘tu l’auras’.

Translation: One “here you go” is better than two “you’ll get it.”

Explanation: Similar to “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” it emphasizes that a guaranteed or immediate gain is more valuable than a larger but uncertain promise.

30. A beau mentir qui vient de loin.

Translation: He who comes from afar can easily lie.

Explanation: Suggests that someone whose story cannot be easily verified can make grand or false claims without fear of being exposed. It’s a caution about believing tall tales or unverified information.

French proverbs give a good glimpse into the wit of the French people.

You don’t need to memorize them all, but keeping a few in mind can make your French skills sound more advanced. It's also a good way to impress native French speakers.

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